I thought this blog would be a great way to capture day to day memories... big or small. Our Canadian friend Carpie has nicknamed Joshua "Tiny T" as in Tiny Twister because of the way his tiny physical presence can cause a mass implication. What a great way to tell about the lives of all of us! No matter how small we feel, we have far reaching ties to the ones around us.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

I know it has been forever since I have posted a blog, but I have a hard time getting to this along with everything else. I have some things to say about my husband that I don't say often enough.As father's day approaches I think back before I was a mother and before Dutch was a father. I try to think about what it was like to NOT be parents. I struggle with that thought. I know we did more for ourselves, but I can honestly say that I do not remember sleeping in every weekend or having dinner with just Dutch every night. One thought that always creeps into my head is when I was due to have Megan. I was OVER due to have Megan and I would find Dutch sitting in her nursery. He would be sitting in the oversized rocking chair with a baby book of somekind. He would be just sitting, rocking and reading. I would find him there several times until I asked "what are you doing?". He, so big, burly and adorable, said back..."I just want my baby... Why won't you just give me my baby?". I can just picture it. Like I was purposely carrying around this big belly holding it all for myself and not sharing the reward. Believe me, at 9 months and 1 week pregnant, I would have LOVED to GIVE IT TO HIM! Thank you Dutch for being READY for Megan. At her birth, I remember Dutch so badly wanted a boy. He secretly wished for it all 9 months. I heard... "IT'S A.....G.I.R.L" I was panicked. I turned immediately to Dutch and asked him "Are you disappointed?" His reply, gently and perfectly "How could I be?" Thank you Dutch for being so perfectly ready to be a dad of a GIRL. You are the best Dad of a girl that I know (and that is saying A LOT). About 3 1/2 years passed. We were pretty good parents to Megan, Not great, not horrid... pretty good. We both made mistakes (we still do). But all in all, we love each other and do a good job. I started craving a baby. Before we were married, Dutch and I had agreed to 2-3 children. I wanted 2, he wanted 3. Now, all of a sudden, he wanted only 1. Megan. Oh No! You do not break that contract. That was a pre-negotiated contract that was bound by the legality of marriage. So, we DISCUSSED it often. Finally, 1 weekend Megan and I went to NY. When we returned, Dutch met us in the basement. As I am walk up the stairs to the kitchen, Dutch called to me... "Oh, by the way...I think I am ready for a 2nd child". My response is "well I hope so... cause I think I am pregnant!" And I was. 9 months later we were given our Joshua. His birth was a struggle. He ended up needing to be removed by emergency c-section. It was very scary. Again, Dutch was perfect through it all. Thank you Dutch for being the perfect birth partner. Problems in our marriage came and went as they always do for couples. I never doubted that Dutch LOVES his family. Thank you for that, Dutch. As life progresses and and days turn boring and routine, I still see him as the greatest dad... day after day! Times when I think he will be frustrated and upset, he is not. He never hesitates to pick up and volunteer his time to them and their activities. We have seemed to silently work out our "roles". Mine being the disciplinarian and organized one, and Dutch's being the provider and fun one. I know our children can count on us. Our children are well balanced, mature, fun, outgoing, jocks, klutzs, cultured, messy, organized, and LOVED. Thank you for balancing my weaknesses. Then November 2006 along came #3. Monika. Dutch loved her from the day she was born, but love was not enough in that situation. Dutch fought the fight and lost, knowing that one day she would knock on our door. She entered our lives through destiny (do I need to mention the haircut) and together we welcomed her with open arms. No matter how seperate Dutch was in her life, when I see her, I see him. There are qualities that we posess that is beyond us. Qualities of strength, humor, security that are either in you or they are not. They are in Dutch and they are in Monika. Dutch you are so special to have made that work. You have the strength and conviction that I only wish I hard. You are a fabulous dad. Thank you for being the father of MY children. Thank GOD for making you the father of my children. As the pastor said at our wedding, we are different enough to keep things interesting. I love you!

Sunday, April 5, 2009

I have been super busy lately which is no excuse for not writing, but I am going to try getting back to it.

I wanted to hop on here and tell everyone about the awesome time Megan has had lately. She really is becoming quite the grown up and has accomplished alot lately. Megan is in Third Grade. She is 8 years old. A couple months back Megan brought home a brochoure to invite her to compete in a writing contest. She had to write a fictional story. Megan was inspired to write her story about our dog Lucy...but made it a "Day in the life of Lucy". It was a nice story about a dog that goes to doggey day care. A couple months passed after the submission of her story and she was called to the principals office. Megan has never been asked to the Principals office before so she admitted to me and her dad that she was very nervous. She was afraid she was in trouble and couldn't remember what she could have done wrong. The principal told her she was very proud of Megan and that she had won the writing contest for the 3rd grade. WOW. Winning this contest qualified Megan to attend an award ceremony at a near by college (Grove City College) where an overall winner will be announced and a reading of all the entries will occur. The day was beautiful and her dad and I were so proud. The day after Megan learned of the contest winning, Megan had Cheerleading practice. At this practice one of her friends told Megan that one of her paintings from Art class was being displayed in front of the office at school. Megan and I went to take a look and sure enough there was this great painting of a male, with glasses and spiked hair. I asked Megan what the project was and she said that they had to paint someone they loved....she chose her brother!! How sweet. The next accomplishment for Megan was that she had Cheerleading tryouts. She had 3 practices and then had to try out. (not really comfortable with 8 year olds trying out, but it was beyond my control). Well, needless to say Megan made the squad. Yea. So we thought Megan's winning streak was over when we were at her basketball game yesterday and her team and the other team were tied up. They went into overtime and were still tied at the end of the overtime. They had to do free throws. Megan was the last one from her team to have to throw and the other team had 1 more to go. It was up to her throw weather or not they won or not. The pressure was mounting. Her dad was screaming... MEGAN, YOU HAVE TO GET THIS.... Megan didn't look nervous at all... SHE GOT THE SHOT!!!

I don't know if I can take much more. She is on such a streak. WAY TO GO MEGAN.

About Me

I am a NY transplant that went to college in 1992 - 1995 at Slippery Rock University. I was ready to move back to NY when I was offered a good job. I decided to spend 1 year getting experience at that job and then move back to NY. Well just about 9 months later, I met Dutch. Yes, we met at a bar. He was adorable and the stories we have about how we met is found in my postings. So, after meeting him, I decided once again to give it a year. By the time the year was over... I was in love. There was no moving back to NY. I have been in Pennsylvania 17 years now and feel it is my home. I have a connection here. I am always fond of my hometown in NY, but I am definately a Pennsylvania girl now.